Chelsea rivals missed their big chance to stop Blues: Malouda

London, Jan 5 (ANI): French ace Florent Malouda has said that Chelsea's title rivals Manchester United, City and Arsenal have missed their big chance to stop the Blue Machine and will not get another opportunity to topple the Premier League leaders this season.

Malouda is convinced Carlo Ancelotti's team are back on course despite dropping 11 points in December.

"If the other teams behind us had won their games in December, things might have been different. We had one those months when we did not play well, but so did everybody else and so we are still top of the League," The Sun quoted Malouda, as saying.

Chelsea will be without four players on African Nations Cup duty, but Malouda said: "Our strength is our system. Even though we will be missing some great players there are others to step straight into the side."

Malouda also denied reports he was ready to quit Chelsea. He said: "I was shocked by a report that I wanted to leave. I spoke with the manager and with Frank Lampard and explained that I had said nothing bad about them.

"Yes, I've been frustrated about not appearing in the big games because this is World Cup year. But I've never complained." (ANI)